Updated
Overview
Egypt has 28% more people than Iran: 118.37 million against 92.42 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $365.25B for Egypt and $362.68B for Iran.
Per person, Iran is the wealthier of the two: $3,924 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Iran | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $365.25B | $362.68B | 2025 | $389.06B / $436.91B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $3,924 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | -2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 14.1% | 42.2% | 2025 | 28.3% / 32.5% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 6.8% | 8.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $1,264 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 92.42 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 89.18 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 34.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.67 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 85% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 1,648,195 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 56.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 258 Mt | 793 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 8.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $7.89B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 650,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Egypt grew while the other economy contracted: 4.4% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 14.1%.
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 34.0 years.
Life expectancy is 6.0 years longer in Iran (77.9 vs 71.8).
Iran is considerably more urbanized: 77% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Iran (85% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 39% smaller than Iran: 1,002,450 km² versus 1,648,195 km².
Egypt is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 56.
Military
Iran spends 3.3 times as much on defence as Egypt: $7.89B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Iran carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 650,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Iran?
- Iran is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Iran covers 1,648,195 km², so Iran is 64% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Iran?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 92.42 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Iran?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Iran is richer: $3,924 against $3,086. Total GDP tells a different story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $362.68B for Iran.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Iran?
- Iran spends more: $7.89B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).